The City of Edmonds and Sound Transit were on hand Wednesday as the “Standing Wave” sculpture by Seattle artist Gerry Tsutakawa finally received a permanent home.

In 2002, Sound Transit worked with the Edmonds Arts Commission to select an artist to create artwork for the new Sound Transit train platform. Tsutakawa was chosen and he developed a model of his proposed bronze sculpture, “Standing Wave.” The design is a totem-like image that is allegorical to the movement of water on Puget Sound.

The selection committee and the Edmonds Arts Commission reviewed the design and proposed that private fundraising be undertaken to double the budget, which would make it possible to commission a 15-foot sculpture – creating a visual landmark keeping with the scale of the recommended site at the train platform’s north end. Due to delays in platform construction, the sculpture was temporarily installed at the SR 104 Mini Park adjacent to the ferry holding lanes in March 2004.

Construction on the Sound Transit platform is now complete, so on Wednesday, representatives from Sound Transit Art Program and the City were on hand as the crane lifted up the sculpture and the artist and his crew set in down on the new site.  The hollow sculpture is bolted to the concrete and partially filled with sand. The plaque will be moved to the new site in time for the public dedication of the Sound Transit platform next Friday, July 8 at 10:30 a.m.

According to the City of Edmonds Arts Commission,  “Standing Wave” is the result of a unique partnership involving Sound Transit’s Start Program, the Arts Commission and private donors including the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, the Hubbard Family Foundation, Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation, Bagley Wright Family Fund, Moccasin Lake Foundation, Doug and Janet True, Henry and Mary Ann James, and Pat and Doug Ikegami. In addition to “Standing Wave,” artist Gerry Tsutakawa created four panels for the railing at the south end of the platform.